EV Grieve

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Penistrator shows off his stroke outside Mars Bar

The Intern of EV Grieve (IOEVG) returns to my good graces with this masterful photo taken outside the Mars Bar the other night... This is NOT the Faux Penistrator that we've seen of late... No, this is classic ~~Osment~~ Penistrator.

7-Eleven set to feast on the corpse of Manhattan

In the above photo, 7-Eleven is in place on Third Avenue near 20th Street... directly next to a mom-and-pop market... Meanwhile, here are some excerpts from Adrianne Pasquarelli's piece in Crain's ... in which the Slurpee Slingers are planning to, basically, take over Manhattan...

7-Eleven is taking Manhattan by storm. The Dallas-based convenience store operator recently opened two outposts in Murray Hill and has signed leases for another two locations elsewhere in the borough.

“We are actively looking,” said Margaret Chabris, public relations director for 83-year-old 7-Eleven Inc., noting that New York is a key growth market. The company, which has several additional leases out for negotiation in Manhattan, is also moving onto college campuses and airports.

By the end of 2012, 7-Eleven plans to have between 15 and 20 Manhattan locations, according to real estate sources. In the next five years, the company aims to operate 100 outposts here.

“There are more attractive locations available now than there were in the past, and this is due to the recession," Ms. Chabris said. "A lot of small businesses are having a tough time growing, or some of them aren't able to renew leases."

Part of the company's new strategy involves a small-business conversion program where existing mom-and-pop stores, convenience shops or bodegas transition their businesses into 7-Eleven franchise locations. Each outpost costs approximately $250,000 to remodel.

So far, the company has replaced old delis and DVD stores, and even a former Starbucks on Third Avenue.

Any bets on a 7-Eleven in the East Village ... as rumored last year...?

When dessert worlds COLLIDE!

In which the cupcake truckers set up, uh, truck right in front of Pinkberry last evening on St. Mark's Place.

Why there was a hot dog vendor in Tompkins Square Park yesterday

"Blue Bloods," the CBS police drama starring Thomas Magnum, filmed in Tompkins Square Park yesterday ... in a scene requiring a hot dog vendor...

... and here are a few other shots courtesy of Bobby Williams...

No word on any Tom Selleck sightings.

Monday, January 10, 2011

LES nightlife game-changer: Team behind 13th Step, Down the Hatch OK'd to take over Café Charbon space

[Photo by Shanna Ravindra for New York magazine]

This one seemingly took a lot of people by surprise at tonight's CB3/SLA meeting:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades:
To Be Determined, 168-170 Orchard St (trans/op) (L'Epicerie Cafe Charbon)

This is one helluva transfer. Epicerie Café Charbon, with its pâté maison and moules marinières, on the corner of Orchard and Stanton Streets, will be closing... and the team behind The Stumble Inn, Off the Wagon, Gin Mill, Jake's Dilemma, Down the Hatch and The 13th Step are taking over the space.

The CB3/SLA committee unanimously approved the transfer. A few details: The space will be a full-service tavern open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. The French doors will close at 10 p.m. There will be $1 drafts at happy hour, a private party room and DJs on occasion (no dancing, though).

No word yet on the name of the new bar.

Previously on EV Grieve:
13th Step owner discusses frat rap, telephone booths and bar names

[Updated] Superdive a CB3/SLA no-show tonight

Superdive was on tonight's CB3/SLA docket for the following:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
• Superdive (Rapture Cafe & Books LLC), 200 Ave A (alt/op/legalize work done, move bar)

And Team Superdive was not there. So! A few residents spoke out anyway, figuring they'll need to come back next month when Superdive is likely back on the agenda for the ~~77th~~ seventh time...

[Updated] Via e-mail, I asked Team Superdive why they didn't appear at the meeting:

"Kangaroo kafka kourts don't lend themselves dynamic discourse."

Also a no-show!

• Cien Fuegos (Cien Fuegos LLC), 95 Ave A ... the Cuban eatery/bar/what not was looking for a sidewalk cafe...

Express support for affordable housing in our neighborhood

The following was sent by Rob at Save the Lower East Side!

Tomorrow is the deadline for community comment submissions (send to spura@cb3manhattan.org) on SPURA — the largest vacant land area south of 96th Street — a rare opportunity for the creation of affordable housing, and a part of Bloomberg's plan to create or preserve 165,000 affordable units, including 60,000 new units to be created. How many of these 60,000 new units SPURA will contribute depends in part on what our community says.

CB3 is currently working toward a plan of 800 affordable units, and a total residential ratio of 50 percent market-rate to 50% non-market-rate. The non-market-rate housing will comprise
20 percent low-income housing,
20 percent moderate (<$100,000 income) & middle income (<$130,000 income) housing, and 10 percent senior housing. In other words, the CB plan, if built, would result in at least 1,600 residential units, about the size of one EV block of six story tenements. Whether the city will respect the community agreement is an open question. Look at what happened to Atlantic Yards. The area stands in Sheldon Silver's district, and he has not yet commented.

The city, however, seems strongly committed: the city needs the revenue from the sale of the land, the residential and commercial taxes and residential disposable income that development will bring, as well as add to the legacy of the mayor, who has made affordable housing a goal. But before the city can move forward, it needs an agreement from the CB, as a first step. So now is the moment to express support for affordable housing in Manhattan.

The current CB3 plan is here.

Send your comments to spura@cb3manhattan.org

Yesterday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

Some sort of low-wire act in Tompkins Square Park, captured by Bobby Williams...

Previously.

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

The Times is live-blogging the NYC City Council snow hearing (City Room) Or watch them live.

SPURA deadline looming (The Lo-Down)

More on the StuyTown Penistrator (Lux Living)

Ray is now making crepes (Nadie Se Conoce)

147 Houston continues proud tradition of quickly shuttered eateries (BoweryBoogie)

Trends in FroYo, Cupcakes (Eater)

Snow fun inside Mars Bar (Slum Goddess)

Andres Balazs buying the Hotel Chelsea? (The Real Deal)

Abel Ferrara speaks out about NYC (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

The Telegraph UK asks, Is this really the cover of the new Strokes album?

Anyone missing a dog around Second Street between Avenue A and First Street? Per a reader: "I was surprised last night by a dog trotting past me with a collar but no leash. Cute little white and brown spotted thing. Couldn’t really catch it or anything but felt bad if someone is looking for this guy."

Details on a service for Caveman, via the front window at Sophie's:

Possible delay in emergency response today from Engine 28 and Ladder 11

We'll periodically have information on local fire company activities, including when they are closed for periods of time... particularly the FDNY’s Engine 28 and Ladder 11 — the two fire companies quartered at 222 E. Second St.

The following fire companies that are either located in the East Village OR that respond into the East Village from other neighborhoods will be conducting Building Inspection at the following times today:

• Monday Morning from 10 am-1 pm: L-6, L-11 (as well as every Monday morning)

• Monday Afternoon from 1 pm-4 pm: E-5, E-33, L-3, L-18, L-20 (as well as every Monday afternoon)

Sign marks start of renovations at 326-328 E. Fourth St.

Despite a lot of outreach and awareness by a variety of local politicians and preservations groups, the historic townhouses at 326-328 E. Fourth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D continue their journey toward the luxury condo afterlife... EV Grieve reader Steve sends along photos of new signs up on the property...

The DOB issued work permits here back on Nov. 16 — the same day that the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC), Councilmember Rosie Mendez, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, the Historic Districts Council, and the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy held a rally and press conference to try to preserve these buildings...

As the standard sign reads, this project "will improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers." And later... "Here on 326-328 E. 4th Street a new apartment building is being built that will contribute to the lively community."

Two floors will be added here to create more luxury housing... Will this addition "contribute to the lively community"?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Historic East Fourth Street artists' collective soon to be condos

Two side-by-side townhouses on East Fourth Street await your renovation

City doesn't give a shit about these historic East Village townhouses

Read more abou tthe preservation efforts here.

Today in Le Souk resurrections

Despite a rather permanent closure, Avenue B's former hookah hotspot continues to put the fear in nearby residents.... from an advertised New Year's Eve bash ... to hosting loud parties... Now comes a listing on the Joonbug website....

"Come listen to the hottest Rock/Electro/Dance music from past and present. Party with all the beautiful people and enjoy the sweet tastes of HOOKAH!!"

Perhaps this listing is a mistake, and intended for Le Souk's LaGuardia Place location... or, well, I guess we'll see some beautiful people on Avenue B tomorrow night....

Noticeable progress at the future Union Square Hyatt

So it has been nearly a year since we've mentioned the stalled/unstalled/too tall/view-blocking hotel project coming to Fourth Avenue and 13th Street... on Dec. 17, Curbed pointed out that this space will be home to a Hyatt hotel... which will look something like this:

Per the Hyatt news release issued last fall:

The other Hyatt-branded property announced today, slated to open Fall 2011, will be located at 13th Street and 4th Avenue, a block off Union Square, and near Washington Square Park. The area is extremely popular with residents and tourists alike, and is an activity hub for major hospitals, universities and retail centers. The hotel will offer stunning accommodations to its guests, including private terraces on the second floor, a well-appointed fitness center and an exclusive rooftop lounge. The historic façade and 23 foot ceilings in the lobby will create a grand space for the stylish lounge opening up to 13th Street and a restaurant concept inspired by the local and organic Greenmarket.

Uh-huh! Based on the stop-start work here the last, oh, 18 months, a fall 2011 opening seems awfully ambitious... But! I walked by the site over the weekend and noticed, uh, noticeable progress...